In the electrifying roar of the Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton, a teenage sensation etched another chapter into darts immortality. Luke Littler, the 18-year-old prodigy from Warrington, stood poised at the oche, his dart arcing through the air like a comet on a collision course with destiny. With a clinical double 10, he sealed a 16-11 victory over world-class rival Luke Humphries in the final of the 2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts. The crowd erupted, confetti rained down, and for the second year running, the Eric Bristow Trophy found its way back into Littler’s hands—a £150,000 prize that crowned not just a champion, but a phenomenon rewriting the sport’s record books.
It was a triumph laced with grit and glory, marking the first time the lanky left-hander had defended a major televised title. Just months after claiming the Sid Waddell Trophy at the PDC World Darts Championship earlier in the year, Littler arrived in the West Midlands as the defending Grand Slam king, his unbeaten streak in the event stretching to an impeccable 14 matches. But this wasn’t a coronation stroll; it was a gauntlet thrown down by the world’s elite, each leg a test of nerve, precision, and unyielding hunger.
Littler’s path to the final had been a masterclass in resilience. He breezed through the round-robin stage, dispatching Karel Sedlacek, Connor Scutt, Daryl Gurney, and Wessel Nijman with averages that left opponents dazed and spectators spellbound. The quarter-finals brought a heart-stopping thriller against Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock, where Littler trailed 9-6 before unleashing seven legs in a row to clinch a 16-12 comeback, his 105.18 average a testament to his predatory scoring—11 maximum 180s slicing through the air like thunderclaps. The semi-final was no less demanding: a 16-9 grind against Danny Noppert, where a blistering 167 checkout confirmed what many had whispered for months—Littler was ascending to the PDC’s pinnacle, becoming the youngest world number one in history with over £1.85 million in ranking earnings.
By the time the final showdown with Humphries loomed, the air crackled with anticipation. Humphries, the 2023 champion and outgoing world No.1, entered nursing a nagging back spasm that had nearly sidelined him days earlier. Yet, the 30-year-old from Newbury summoned his trademark ferocity, storming to a 4-2 lead with a ruthless ten-darter and razor-sharp two-dart finishes of 100 and 94. The match twisted like a coiled spring: Littler clawed back with a three-leg surge, only for Humphries to level at 5-5 on a 112 outshot. The pendulum swung again as Humphries forged an 8-6 advantage, his 12-darters landing with the precision of a sniper.
But Littler, ever the unflappable phenom, refused to yield. A monstrous 167 finish tied it at 8-8, the crowd’s cheers vibrating through the arena like a living heartbeat. Then came the moment that tilted the scales—a seven-perfect-dart opener in leg 19, capped by a 160 checkout that Humphries could only watch in awe. “That 160 to go in the break at 11-9… I was gone first six darts of that leg,” Littler would later reflect, his voice steady but eyes alight with the thrill. From there, the teenager owned the board, reeling off ten of the last 13 legs, including a cool 96 to etch his name in the annals once more. His final average of 100.61, laced with 15 blistering 180s, wasn’t just numbers—it was a statement of dominance.
As the final dart thudded home, Littler dropped to his knees, the weight of the win crashing over him like a wave. Humphries, gracious in defeat despite his third straight major final loss, enveloped him in a bear hug on stage, planting a kiss on his cheek amid thunderous applause. “I’m really proud of what I’ve done this week,” Humphries admitted, his tone a mix of exhaustion and fire. “That’s three finals on the trot I’ve lost. It’s disappointing, but I’m playing well. Tiredness just crept in at the end there.” He turned to Littler with a wry smile: “He deserves everything he gets. He’s been a massive advocate for darts.” Yet, beneath the sportsmanship burned a vow of vengeance. “I’m ready for the Worlds now. I’m going to win the Worlds. We’re going to go to war at the World Championships—me and him in the final. We’ll see who is world No.1 there.”
For Littler, the victory was as much emotional as it was athletic. As he hoisted the gleaming trophy—its silver curves catching the spotlights—he scanned the sea of faces, his gaze locking on one in particular. There, amid the flashing cameras and jubilant chaos, stood Faith Millar, his girlfriend and steadfast anchor through the whirlwind of fame. In a moment that humanized the prodigy, Littler pulled her into a tender embrace, their hug lingering as he pressed a kiss to her lips, the trophy cradled between them like a shared secret. It was a raw, unscripted snapshot of joy, a reminder that behind the averages and outshots beats the heart of a young man navigating stardom at breakneck speed.
“I’ve got to say it was a tough job getting up this morning,” Littler confessed with a grin, rubbing his eyes as if the afternoon semi-final still lingered in his bones. “No one likes playing in the afternoon, but you have to get through it. Once I got over the line, I knew I was number one. Luke played amazingly tonight. I said to him it was a weird, weird game, but I’m glad to win back-to-back.” Echoing the wisdom of legends like Phil Taylor, he added, “It was always going to be close. Do the hard work up until the final, but then relax and let them go.”
This Grand Slam retention wasn’t just another notch for Littler—whose 2025 haul already includes the UK Open, World Matchplay, and World Grand Prix—but a seismic shift in darts’ landscape. At 18, he’s matched the five-televised titles in a year once held by Taylor and Michael van Gerwen, his prize pot swelling past £1.7 million overall. Humphries, now No.2 with £1.689 million, collects £70,000 as runner-up, his resolve steeled for the upcoming Paddy Power World Darts Championship, where the draw on November 24 places the duo on opposite sides of the bracket—a deliberate twist of fate priming another epic clash.
As the confetti settled and the echoes of chants faded, one truth hung in the air: darts’ new era belongs to Littler. From a kebab-fueled breakout at the 2023/24 Worlds to this back-to-back Grand Slam glory, his trajectory defies gravity. With Faith by his side and the world at his feet, the boy wonder isn’t just playing the game—he’s redefining it, one dart at a time. The road to Ally Pally beckons, and if this weekend is any indication, the throne he’s claimed won’t relinquish easily. In the grand tapestry of sport, few threads shine as brightly as this one.
The whole North West celebrates Luke Littlers World No1success at darts, he is a formidable player at 18 years of age,and may he go on to a lot more success with every darts he throws.🥰